Case sealing machine



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Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VCASESEALING MACHINE lWallace' D. Kimball, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to-Standard`Knapp Corporation, Portland, Conn., acorporation of New York Application May 1, 1941, Serial No'. 391,307

" 39- Claims.

This inventionv relates to apparatus for sealing cartons, and particularly cartons madeV of heavy corrugated board or berboardsuch-as are in general use as shipping'cases for many kinds of products. The bottoms `and tops of` such cases are closedby inner and vouteriilap extensions from the end and side Wallsfirespectively. The invention relates to improvements in carton closing apparatus of the vkind disclosed in Patent No. 1,815,571 of Wallace D. Kimball.V

and Arthur E. Rideout, and Patent No.'2,095,258 ofv lVallace D. Kimball and Cornelius I. Braren, both assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In both of these prior patents the iilledshipping cases or cartons are received resting-on their' bottom .aps Vand with the bottom flaps closed but unsealed. The top flaps may or may not be folded to closed position,I and in passing through the apparatus the cases have. both their topand Ybottomllaps opened and swung' out- -tvardly t'olhorizon'tal position, in Whichposition adhesive is'. applied andy thereafter the-.flaps are 'refolded to closed positionandpressed into sealing contact with one another.

:The cartons` as they leave such apparatus'are'. ordinarily passed directly into a compressioniunit or sealing pressure-applying'apparatus by'whichthe ilaps are held in contact with .onelanother until the -adhesivehas set.

' AThe apparatus or the former. patentawasar- A ranged for the adjustment of. vth'e.hap-unfolding devices, Aglue-applying .mechanismand flap-refolding and closing devices, together Withiappurtenantguidingrails so as toemploytheapparatus -for sealing cartons Oidi'erent width and'height. The adjustments Weremade by a mechanic and it was necessary totaketheimachine out of operation While it Ywas being re- 4adjusted to `handle cases oifadiferent size.

`the kcases in which the products are' packed for shipment Otten-differ 'considerably in lsize,.lboth in `heightland Width. .Instead of providing a fseparate carton-closing apparatus to Ahandleeach of thediierent sized cases, isuchmanufacturers may desire to have asinglecartonjeclosing apparatus -Which vwill `take successive cases differing Widely in size7 and it is the object of the present invention to meet this need and provide acarton-closing apparatus vwhich is self-adjustable lbothV asto the height. and the Width of case, so

that, within the range of.,sizes for which the machine is designed, awide, high case may be sent through the machinerfollowed by a narrow,

low case, or vice versa, and the machine will automatically accommodate itself. toA each case presented to it.

To this endthe-machine is arranged to gauge or caliper both theheight and the width of each case delivered. to it .and then automatically adjust the flap-manipulating, adhesive-applying and case-guidingv devices. according to the measured dimensions of the case.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide apparatus for carryingout these operations 'which is capable of giving reliable-operation and Uhigh output.

The invention .will be lunderstood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings-Which illustrate, byway of example, the embodiment of the invention in a -topand bottom gluing appaf .ratus, although it Will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to a machine Y which glues and closes the top flaps only, and

that if desired .certain features oi the invention, such, for example, as the height adjustment,

- may also be applied to sealing pressure apparatus v and the like.

In the accompanying drawings: Figs. la and 1b are complementary Views which, taken together, represent .the complete machine in plan View;

Figs. Y2a and 217* are complementary views which show the mach-ine in central vertical section taken on lines 2a-2a of Fig. la and2b2b of Fig. 1b;

Fig. 8 isa vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on broken line 3-3 of Figs. la and 4 showing the details. of the Ycase-feeding and timing mechanism;

Fig. 4 isa plan view of thetiming mechanism shown in Fig. v3 drawn to the same'scale;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on broken line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6 5 of Figs. 1b and 2b illustrating a portion ofthe motor driving mechanism for both height .and width adjustment;

; Fig. 7 is a view of the rear side of themachine ..Which is on the right when facing the entrance,

orzfront. end of the machine, as shown in Figs.

1ct-1b, illustrating the mechanism for gauging the height of the case entering the machine and drawn to a slightly enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. l illustrating certain details of the height-gauging mechanism;

Figs. 9-12, inclusive, are views similar to Fig. 8 showing parts of this mechanism in different operating positions;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a detail of a portion of the height-gauging mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing certain other details of both the height and width adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section taken on the broken line I5-I5 of Fig. 2b drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale and illustrating parts of the mechanism for width adjustment of the upper flap unfolders and glue rollers. It also shows the mounting and adjustment of the case guides and top flap refolders at the rear end of the machine;

Fig. 16 is a somewhat similar view of the width adjustment of the same parts for operating on the bottom ilaps, taken on line IE-IE of Fig. 2b;

Fig. 17 is a perspective View showing the construction and operation of the automatic mechanism for gauging the width of the case entering the machine;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of the guides for gauging the case width set for the maximum width for which the machine is intended, and the motor-adjusted guides at the central part of the machine set at the minimum width for which the machine is intended;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 illustrating the gauging and adjustment of the machine for a case of intermediate width;

Fig. 20 is a vertical section taken on line 26-20 of Fig. 6 with certain parts omitted showing the two width adjustment switches and illustrating the top and bottom gluing mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a vertical Section taken on broken line 2I-2I of Fig. 2b showing the mechanism for width adjustment of the case guides at the rear end of the machine and of the bottom flap refolders, and in addition the adjustment for both width and height of the top flap refolders and inner top flap holding bar;

Fig. 22 is a somewhat diagrammatic View to illustrate certain parts of the height and width adjusting mechanism referred to in connection with Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on line 23.--23 of Fig. 22; and

Fig. 24 is a diagram of electrical connections.

Referring now to these drawings, and particularly Figs. la, 1b, 2a and 2b, the general arrangement of the machine is not unlike the disclosures in the two patents mentioned above, particularly the second patent. Itis a long, narrow structure having two side frame members I and 2 extending substantially from one end to the other. These are suitably supported as indicated. An elongated support consisting of a series of roller tables 3, 4 and 5 and a flat smooth platen, or table, 6 is arranged centrally between these frame members I and 2 to support the cases as they progress through the apparatus. At the left hand end of the machine there is a cross shaft 'I and near the right hand end a similar cross shaft 8. On these shafts are the usual sprockets carrying the usual pair of feeding chains 9 and carried in spaced relation by these chains are the case driving bars I0.

The cases are fed into the machine at the left hand end by means of a timing or feeding-in mechanism indicated generally by numeral II which feeds the cases one at a time onto a constantly driven short endless feed belt I2 well in advance of each driving bar I0 so as to permit the gauging or measurement of the height of the case before the driving bar catches up with it. Feed belt I2 carries the case forward against a vertically shiftable stop plate I3 at the forward end of roller table 3. The cases are momentarily stopped at this gauging station while the height gauging mechanism, indicated generally by numeral I4 (Fig. 2a) operates. By the time the gauging operation is completed, one of the feed bars I0 arrives behind the case and pushes it forward onto roller table II where the widthgauging mechanism, indicated generally by numeral I5 (see perspective view Il) operates and at the same time shifts the case on rollers d as may be necessary to center it with respect to the platen or table 6. The case advances from roller table 4 onto the roller table 5 whose rollers are pitched downward so as to permit the outer side flaps of the carton to open somewhat, after which the carton advances onto platen 6, the pointed forward end of which enters beneath the outer or side flaps and supports the carton and its contents on its inner or end flaps.

As the carton advances over platen 6 (Fig. 2b) both the bottom and top side flaps are opened outwardly to horizontal position and adhesive is applied by the gluing mechanism indicated generally by numeral I6, after which both the top and bottom liaps are refolded to closed position against the inner flaps and the carton is delivered from the left hand end of the machine into the sealing pressure applying apparatus. During the time that the carton is advancing from the height-gauging mechanism I4 and past the width-gauging mechanism I5, the automatic adjustment of the height of the gluing mechanism I6 including the top flap unfolders to accommodate the approaching case, is accomplished, and as well, the automatic width-adjustment, that is, the moving further apart, or closer together, of the glue rollers and flap unfolders.

The automatic adjustment of the top gluer rollers and flap unfolders for height, and the automatic adjustment of both the top and bottom glue rollers and top and bottom nap unfolders for width, is accomplished by means of electric motors I 'I and I8, respectively (Figs. 1b and 6) which are operated in one direction or the other, as required, under the control of switches actuated by the height and width adjusting mechanism.

The height adjustment of the top ap refolders, inner flap-holding shoe and outer flapclosing shoe is accomplished by means of cam mechanism operated in timed relation with the driving bars I0. The Width adjustment of both the bottom and top flap refolders and carton guides at the delivery end of the machine is also by mechanism cam-operated in timed relation to the driving bars I0.

Now describing the machine in detail, the main driving motor I9 (Fig. 1b) is mounted on a subframe at the left hand end of the machine.V

Through a belt 20 this motor drives a reducing gear 2|. The slow speed shaft of this gear is connected, by means of a chain 22 and sprocket 23 (loose on cross shaft l) to drive this shaft through a slip clutch 24. Thus are the main feed chains 3 and the driving bars IB operatively connected with the main driving motor I9. The various cam shafts and other rotating parts of the apparatus are driven by sprocket and chain connections from cross shaft 1 or cross shaft 8, as will be later described.

The timing or feed-in mechanism II is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2a, la. and 3, 4 and 5. A short endless belt is carried by rollers 25 and 21, roller 21 being on a shaft which extends between two stationary side frame members 2B, in turn supported on the main side frame Inembers I and 2. The other belt roller 26 is on a shaft which is rotatably mounted at the left hand end of a pair of pivoted frame members 29 which are pivoted at 3i) adjacent roller 21. These side frame members 29 are joined together into a rigid structure by a series of cross rods which carry table rollers 3| to support the upper side of belt 25, and they are joined together at their left-hand ends by an angle bar 32 which forms a scuff plate to carry cases resting on the timer belt 25 against a stationary stop roller 33 when the left-hand end of this framework is in its low position, as shown in Figs. 2a and 3.

The cases are received on timing belt 25, usually from a roller conveyor from the case-packing machine and are held back by the stop roller 33 until the proper time, when the left hand end of timer belt 25 is raised by lifting the side frames 2'3 by mechanism to be described so as to elevate the front of the foremost case over the stop roller and allow the timing belt to push it forward onto the feed belt I2. `Side guides 34 are provided above timing belt 25 and are adjusted to the width of the widest case which the machine is to accommodate on any particular run.

Timing belt 25 is driven by means of a sprocket on the shaft of roller 25 which is connected by a chain 35 with a sprocket 36 on cross shaft 8. The ratio of these two sprockets is such as to give timing belt 25 a speed which is substantially higher than the rate of movement of main feed chains 9, so as to'advance the foremost case quickly over the stop roller 33 and onto feed belt l2. Thereupon frames 23 are lowered again to catch the next case against the stop roller, thereby feeding the cases one at a time into the machine.

The mechanism for raising frames 23 and the left-hand end of timer belt 25 is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A lifting arm 31 is pivoted at 33 to side frame member 2 and its opposite end, which carries a knife 3S, is periodically raised and lowered by means of a roller 4I) which ccacts with a4 cam 4! on cross shaft 8. To lift frame 29 an arm 42 carrying a catch plate 43 having at its lower edge an inverted V-shaped groove to be engaged by knife 39 is provided. When catch plate 43 is vertically above knife 39 the catch plate and arm 42 will be lifted bodily by the upward movement of arm 3l and knife 35. Arm 42 is loosely mounted on the end of a rod 44 and the arm is biased toward knife 33 by a helical spring 45 surrounding rod t4. Rod i4 extends crcsswise beneath frame members 29 and is fixed to the outer end of a pair of short arms 45 adjacent and below each frame member 23 (one of'which is illustrated in 3 and 4) these arms being pinned to a cross shaft 31 which is pivoted to stationary frame members 28, In order to connect frame members 29 with rcd so that the lifting of rod M will lift timing belt 25, a pail of short link 1 members 48 adjacent each of frame members 2S, one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided.

It is desired not to have the timing belt 25 raised unless there is a case on this belt ready to be admitted to the gluer, and, furthermore, since cam 4I is on cross shaft 3 of the feed chains 9, and since 'this shaft makes three revolutions between the passage of successive drive bars I3, it is necessary to provide a control mechanism to control the shifting of arm 42 to bring catch member d3 into or out of engagement with knife 39.

In order to accomplish this, catch member 43 is made wider than the Width of knife 39 as shown in Fig. 4, and two control members, 49 and 53, one on each side of knife 39, are provided.- Both of these control members normally hold catch member 43 and arm 42 in a position at the right of knife 39 as shown in the drawings. Control member 50 is an S-shaped arm pivoted at 5I on a bracket on the bottom of side frame 2 and has a roller 52 which is engaged by a cam 53 which is driven, by means of a chain 54 and suitable sprockets, from cro-ss shaft 8 in such a way as to make one revolution for each three revolutions of shaft 8. Cam 53 is also timed with respect to the 'advance of driving bars It so as to cause the movement of control member 55 to the left, and hence the delivery of a case onto feed belt I2, shortly after the passage of the guide bars beyond the end lof the shiftable stop I3. In this way the feeding of each case is properly timed with respect to the operation cf the gluer.

If there is no case present on the timing belt 25, however, the catch member 43 is held out of engagement with the knife 33 by means of the second control member 43 which consists of an arm extending upwardly from la shaft 55 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which extends crosswise of the machine and at its center carries a finger 55 (Figs. la and 3) which is engaged and moved forward by the foremost'case into a recess 51 in stop roller rl"his movement of finger 55 shifts arm 4S to the left in Figs. 3 and 4 against an adjustable stop 53 and against the pull of helical spring 59 by which armA 49 is normally biased to hold catch member 43 out of engagement with knife 39. The shifting of arm 43 against stop 58 permits theengagement of catch member 43 by knife 39, and hence the raising of the timing belt 25, when cam'f has rotated so as to actuate control arm 5i? te permit this engagement.

When a case is received from the timing mechanism II on the feed belt I2 and advanced over roller table 3 against stop plate I3, this Stop plate is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2a. Feed' belt I2 is driven by a roller 53 secured on cross shaft 8. Stop plate I3 is supported on a bar 46I which is carried at its ends on a pair of arms 52 pivoted on a shaft 63 which is carried in the side members I and 2. Stop plate i3 is urged toward its upper position by a helical spring lili surrounding shaft 63 towards its right hand end. The' arm 62 on this side of the machine has an extension 55 on which is a roller 35 engaging e cam 61. This cam is xed to a main cam shaft 68 extending crosswise of the machine and driven by a sprocket 59 and chain 10 from 'a sprocket 'il on the outer end of cross shaft 3. A take-up sprocket 12 is provided for chain 13. At the center of cam shaft 38 there is a small cam 13 which actuates a pivoted lever 14 to lift the front edge of the rear-flap of each case onto the front pointed end of theplaten 6 'at the proper time.

Referring now to the bottom gluing mechanism,

this includes a pair of gluing or adhesive-applying rollers (Fig. 16) which are adjustable laterally with respect to one another, a pair of lower guides 16 and a pair of flap unfolders 11 for unfolding the lower side naps, both of which are adjustable laterally simultaneously with the bottom glue rollers 15. When the carton reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2b, the outer or side bottom flaps have previously dropped open and are about to be engaged by the flap unfolders 11 shown in the form of warped 'surfaces which fold the flaps outwardly to horizontal position and guide them into contact with the upper surface of glue rollers 15, as shown in detail in Fig. 20, so that a coating of adhesive is applied to the lower surfaces of the unfolded flaps. Glue rollers 15 are rotated continuously by means of a sprocket 18 on the shaft 19 which extends crosswise of the machine to carry glue rollers 15. vA chain 80 drives sprocket 18 from a sprocket 8| on crossV shaft 1. To permit rollers 15 to be moved laterally they are connected to their supporting shaft 19 by splines 82.

To facilitate the power adjustment of the several parts, each of the adhesive receptacles 83, the support for each of the guides 16 and the support for each of the unfolders 11 are formed into a unitary assembly indicated generally by numeral 84 at each side of the machine. These assemblies are supported in transversely slidable relation on parallel stationary bars 85. Each assembly 84 has suitable arms engaging the opposite side of each glue roller 15 for shifting it along shaft 19 as the assemblies are adjusted with respect to one another to bring them closer together I or farther apart.

To accomplish such adjustment of assemblies 84, one assembly 84 has a pair of rack bars 86, one beneath each of the supporting cross bars 85, and, in a similar position, the other assembly has secured to it a pair of rack bars 81. These pairs of rack bars 86 and 81 are operatively connected together at their centers by means of two pinions 88 secured on opposite ends of a short longitudinal shaftV 89 mounted for rotation on a stationary part of the machine frame. By this arrangement, movement of one rack bar 81 in a given direction causes the assembly 84 to which it is secured to move in the same direction and the opposite assembly 84 to move in the opposite direction, thereby bringing the two assemblies 84 4either closer together or moving them farther apart. By means of this arrangement also, the same motion is imparted to one side of each assembly as to the other side, so that they slide on their supporting bars 85 without binding and the guides 16 are maintained in parallel relation.

To produce the adjusting movement, one of the rack bars 81 is extended and has a second set of rack teeth 90 which engage a pinion 9| secured to a square vertical shaft 92. On the upper end of this shaft is a gear 93 and meshing with it is a pinion 94 on the output shaft of a reduction gear 95 to which width adjusting motor I8 is connected.

The above completes the description of the Y power-operated adjusting mechanism for the lower gluing mechanism. The upper or top flap gluing mechanism is of similar construction except that the transverse supporting bars 85a are arranged for vertical adjustment under the operation of height-adjusting motor I1. The cross bars 85a comprise the principal cross members of a vertically adjustable carriage which is indicated generally by numeral 96. The end members of this carriage 96 into which bars a are anchored comprise two end frames 91 and 98 which areslidable vertically on posts 9.9 and |00 respectively. The description of the gluing mechanism will not be repeated in detail. It Will be understood, however, that the upper adhesive receptacles 83a are modified in form in order that the glue rollers 15a may apply adhesive to the upper surfaces of the outfolded top flaps.

The'adjustment of the two upper assemblies 84a. toward or away from each other is produced in the same way as that of the two lower assemblies 84, that is to say, by means of an extension of rack bar 81a which has a set of rack teeth a that engage a pinion |0|. 'I'his pinion, however, differs from pinion 9| in that it is vertically slidable on the square driving shaft 92 so that width motor IB can be operated to effect the adjustment of both the upper and lower gluing mechanism assemblies 84 and 84a simultaneously, regardless of the height to which the carriage 96 may be adjusted by the operation of motor I1.

The driving connections between height adjusting motor I1 and vertically adjustable carriage 96 are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 2b. A belt |02 from the motor operates a reduction gear |03 and a sprocket |04 on the output shaft of the reduction gear drives a sprocket |05 by means of chain |06, sprocket |05 being on the outer end of a cross shaft |01 which is rotatably mounted in stationary frame members carried by the tops of vertical posts 99 and |00. A set of pinion teeth |08 cut in the surface of shaft |01, mesh with the teeth of a. vertically movable rack bar |09 on one side of the machine, and a second set of pinion teeth ||0 similarly engage a second rack bar on the opposite side of the machine. These rack bars |09 and slide in the frame members at the top of posts |08 and 99 respectively and are secured at their lower ends to the opposite ends of the vertically adjustable frame 96 carrying the upper glue roller, etc. (Fig. 6).

In order to drive the upper glue rollers 15a, a short shaft ||2 (Fig. 16) is driven through gearing I3 from lower glue roller shaft 19, in order to change the direction of rotation. Short shaft ||2 is operatively connected with upperl glue roller shaft 19a by means of two sets of chains |I4 and ||5 and their coacting sprockets,

. as illustrated in Figs. 16 and '1. Further details are set forth in Patent No. 2,095,258, above referred to.

In addition to the flap-folding and glue-applying mechanism previously described, vertically adjustable carriage 96 carries a pivoted member ||6 for initially opening the outer top flaps before they are engaged by the unfolders 11a. Also the bars 85a carry at the center a frame member to which is bolted a forwardly and upwardly projecting stationary ar-m ||1 at the outer end of which a rotary folder ||8 is supported. This folder is rotated in timed relation to the advance of the case by the driving bar I0 to -push down the rear inner ap, as shown in Fig. 2b, beneath the member ||6. Folder ||8 is rotated by chain ||9 (Figs. lb and 2b) which is guided beneathA idler sprockets shown in Fig. 2b and passes over a driving sprocket |20 on glue roller shaft 19a.

Returning new to case gauging mechanism I4 .tically shiftable stop plate |3.

at the forward part of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 2a and la, it has been mentioned that a case fed into the machine from the timing mechanism is stopped against the ver- This stop plate is beneath the gauging mechanism I4, and while the case is momentarily stopped by plate I3, a detector or gauging bar |2l, which is provided at its lower end with a freely swinging pivoted plate or shoe |22, is lowered until the shoe |22 touches the top edge of the front wall of the case. The shoe |22 enters between the two side flaps of the case (which, because of their natural stiiness, are open suihciently to permit its entrance), and forces down the forward inner ap to horizontal position, shoe |22 swinging on its pivot to horizontal position at this instant.

The mechanism for raising and lowering gauging bar |2| is illustrated in Figs. 2a., la, 7 and 8. The gauging bar |2|` is vertically slidable in a bracket |23 which is hired to a horizontal bar |24 that extends between two stationary posts E25, one at each side of the machine. One side of gauging bar i2! has rack teeth |26 that engage pinion teeth formed near one end of a horizontal shaft |21 which is arranged for rotation in bracket |23 and in a second bracket |23 secured at the upper end of one of the posts |25. At its outer end shaft E21 is provided with a second set of pinion teeth |29 which are engaged by a set of rack teeth in an upwardly shiftable bar |33. This bar |36 is connected at its lower end to a long lever |3| which is pivoted at its left hand end at |32 to the side frame 2. Lever |3| carries a roller |33 which engages a large disc cam |34 which is fixed on cam shaft 63, previously referred to. Lever |3| and roller |33 are urged downwardly to maintain the roller in contact with cam |34 by means of a large helical spring |35 (Fig. 7). Since this cam shaft is constantly driven and makes one revolution for the passage of each driving bar ID, the gauging bar I2! is lowered periodically regardless of whether or not a case is present at the gauging station.

The stroke of gauging bar l2 carries the shoe |22 upward above the flaps of the largest case which the machine is designed to accommodate (Fig. 2a) and downward to the lowest dotted position which is below the height L of the lowest case that the machine is designed to take, provided there is no case in the machine. When there is a case at the gauging station, the downward movement of the gauging bar |2| is arrested when the shoe |22 comes into engagement with the case, the cam E34 leaving roller |33 temporarily or until, on its continued rotation, the cam re-engages this roller and lifts the gauging bar 12| back to its uppermost position. During this period while the cam is out of Contact with the roller, leaving the gauging bar in contact with the case, the control mechanism is set.

'in connection with Figs. 2a and 1-12, inclusive, it will be understood that the reference letters H and L and the dotted positions of the various parts corresponding thereto indicate the positions of the parts for the highest and lowest cases, respectively, for which the machine is designed, and the reference letters M1 and M2 indicate the positions of the parts corresponding to cases of two intermediate heights.

The lowering of gauging member |2| into contact with a case by the movement of lever |3| causes the shifting toward the left of a horizontal control setting bar |36 which is operatively connected therewith by rack teeth engaging a third set of pinion teeth |31 formed in the surface of shaft |21. The movement of this bar corresponds exactly with the movement of gauging bar |2| except that it is a horizontal movement instead of a vertical one. Thus the head piece |33 on the right hand end of setting bar |36 is almost at the position shown in Fig. 8 when the gauging bar is in its uppermost position, and as the gauging bar moves downward the head piece |38 moves a corresponding distance to the. left.

Located adjacentand parallel with setting bar |36 (Figs. '7--120 is a long horizontal control bar |35 which forms part of the control mechanism and which is slidably supported at its left hand end in bracket |28 and at its right hand end in one of the frame members mounted at the top of posts |46. Control bar |39 is urged to the right by means of a helical spring |40 bringing a collar |4| fixedA on this bar into engagement with the frame member just referred to, and xing the normal or reference point position of bar |39 to which it is always returned when released by the setting mechanism about to be described.

Secured to control bar |39 are two straight cam plates |42 and |43. Plate |42 is on the lower surface of the bar and plate |43 on the upper so that they are spaced vertically a slight distance apart. Their inner ends are preferably rounded or sloped as illustrated and are also spaced vhorizontally a slight distance apart, sucient to accommodate rollers on the ends of the actuating levers of two electrical switches |44 and |45 (Fig. 13). The connections within these switches are shown in Fig, 24 from which it will be understood that when the actuating levers are in their outward positions which they are permitted to assume when the ends of these levers are between the ends of cam plates |42 and |43 (as shown in Fig. 24 and also in Figs. 8, 10 and 12), the switch contacts are opened so that no current can flow.

When, however, the leverl of switch |44, for example, is pushed inwardly by engagement with the edge of plate |42, as shown in Fig. 11, for example, the contacts of switch |44 are closed. Similarly, when the operating lever of switch |45 is pushed inwardly by engagement with cam plate |43 as shown, for example, in Fig. 9, the contacts of switch |45 are closed. Furthermore, only one of these switches can be closed at a time by cam plates |42 or |43. Switch |44y is connected in a circuit to be described later and shown in Fig. 24, which causes height-adjusting motor |1 to operate to raise the vertically shiitable carriage 96, and switch |45 is in an electrical circuit which, when closed, causes motor |1 to operate to lower carriage 96.

Switches |44 and |45 are mounted upon a horizontal bar |46 which is slidably mounted in a stationary frame member at the top of posts 66, and is provided with rack teeth |41 which engage pinion teeth |46 formed on horizontal transverse shaft |61, the rotation of which by motor l1 causes the raisingv and lowering of rack bar |69 and hence the raising or lowering of carriage 96. Bar |46 and switches Y|44 and |45 are therefore shifted horizontally whenever the carriage 96 is shifted vertically, and the arrangement is such that the amount of horizontal movement of bar |43 is the same as the vertical movement of carriage 36. Switches |44 and |45 move to the left when carriage 93 is lowered and to the right when it is raised.

Assumin'3f now that the carriage 96 is in its highest position, switches |44 and |45 will be in 

